OCTOBER 2024  depression & NDEAM  

October is Depression Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. About 21 million U.S. adults or 8.4% of the population had a major depressive episode in 2020. Depression, especially in midlife or older age, can co-occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more. These conditions are often worse when depression is present, and research suggests people with depression and other medical illnesses tend to have more severe symptoms of both illnesses. 

Depression can affect people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and genders. Depression can look different from one person to the next. Some people may show symptoms like being angry or irritable instead of being sad or disinterested. In some cases, depression can manifest as physical symptoms like a racing heart, tightened chest, headaches, or digestive issues. Men are more likely to see a doctor about physical symptoms rather than mental health concerns. Depression does not have a single cause. It can be triggered by any life crisis, physical illness or spontaneously. 

Disability & Health U.S. State Profile Data: Colorado | CDC

Depression | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

NIMH » Depression

NIMH » Chronic Illness and Mental Health: Recognizing and Treating Depression

Coffee with a Cause  october 2024     

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The Department of Labor reports average disability unemployment rate is DOUBLE the rate of the non-disabled. The Small Business Administration (SBA) reports 66% of all jobs are created by small businesses, meaning only 34% of jobs are generated by the government and corporate sectors combined. At the same time SBA data reveals about 79% of small businesses in Colorado report having no employees. This means 52% of all jobs in Colorado involve some form of self-employment model. These calculations also reveal the remaining 14% of jobs are created by all other small business employers. The State of Colorado Disparity Study concluded there is not a level playing field for some groups and documented that disability-owned businesses faced the most staggering disparities. The data indicates working age adults with a disability only have equal access what amounts to 48% of all employment opportunities. Without equal access to certification, resources and procurement programs as other disparate groups it is clear 52% of self-employment opportunities remain out of reach for many with visible or hidden disabilities.

Small Business Economic Profile CO | (sba.gov)

Disability Mentoring Day | AAPD

AskEARN | Resource Library - Neurodiversity

Coffee with a Cause  october 2024  

Depression and disabilities impact people regardless of age, gender, race, orientation, politics or economic backgrounds. However data indicates some groups are more disparately impacted than others. For example 45% of working age adults in Colorado with a disability report depression compared to 15% of those without a disability. Disabilities are linked to depression, a major cause of absenteeism and productivity loss among working-age adults. At the same time evidence indicates depression (a mental health condition) and poverty (a cost-of-living condition) are the two primary contributors in over 50% of suicides. Meaningful employment is an important tool to disrupt the poverty-depression cycle and help address disparities, reduce costs and improve outcomes.

90% of all disabilities are considered invisible, meaning they do not require a wheelchair or observable assistive devices. The cognition category includes neurodiverse conditions like Autism and mental health diagnosis like depression, and is the largest and fastest growing category among working ages adults in Colorado and USA. Almost 50% of 25-year-olds with Autism have never held a paying job. Only 60% got a job through vocational rehabilitation programs, and 80% worked part-time at a median weekly rate below the poverty level. Poverty metrics often trigger eligibility for government healthcare and benefit programs... not the medical or legal definitions of the term disability.

AskEARN | Home - Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion

Depression | Workplace Health Strategies by Condition | CDC

ODEP | U.S. Department of Labor

Remember a balanced approach uses verified data to identify problems and to propose actionable solutions. Only those willing to have difficult conversations can solve difficult problems. The first step to solving any problem is accepting the data indicating a problem... not blaming the messenger or method of delivery. 

So join us for Coffee with a Cause and let's keep the conversation going each month with more data and actionable real life solutions!